Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader, Anil Deshmukh has found himself in the hot water. Since the arrest of Sachin Vaze, the assistant sub-inspector whose role in the Antilla Bomb scare has come to the forefront — Shiv Sena, the main ruling party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is reportedly, batting for the ouster of Deshmukh, albeit through outside channels.
The apparent willingness to throw Deshmukh under the bus is a counter move by the Shiv Sena to keep the limelight away from itself. Vaze was Shiv Sena’s stooge in the Mumbai Police, employed on Uddhav’s payroll. From the arrest of Arnab Goswami to sensitive encounters, Sachin Vaze was the go-to man to deal with such political cases for the Sena. With NIA and ATS tightening the noose around him, the pandora box of Shiv Sena’s misdoings can come out in the open.
Read more: The death of Mansukh Hiren and the arrest of Sachin Vaze ring the death knells for Uddhav government
Thus, the best pincer move in the situation has been to dub Deshmukh as the culprit who had the knowledge of everything happening around in the state and specifically with Mumbai Police.
Read more: Fear of Devendra Fadnavis makes Uddhav give up his close lieutenant Sachin Vaze to the law
With news of Deshmukh’s resignation allegedly planted by Shiv Sena in the media, the panicked Home Minister instantly went to meet his party high command and supremo, Sharad Pawar. Turns out, even Pawar was a bit miffed at Deshmukh for his handling of the entire event. However, throwing out Deshmukh, a core NCP member, under the bus was a ploy that Pawar did not give his assent to.
A timid Deshmukh came as a relieved man after meeting Sharad Pawar and tweeted that the news of his resignation run by the media was baseless.
“I met Hon’ble PawarSaheb today to discuss the important Mihan project of Vidarbha. We also discussed the investigation carried out in the last two days by ATS [Anti-terror Squad] and NIA in Mansukh Hiren and Sachin Vaze’s case. The news of my resignation that is being shown by the media is baseless (sic),” Anil Deshmukh tweeted.
I met Hon'ble Pawar Saheb today to discuss the important Mihan project of Vidarbha. We also discussed the investigation carried out in the last 2days by #ATS & #NIA in Mansukh Hiren and Sachin Waze's case. The news of my resignation that is being shown by the media is baseless.
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) March 19, 2021
The meeting between Anil Deshmukh and Sharad Pawar lasted for nearly two hours. “Whoever is guilty will be punished. But till the time the NIA does not complete the probe, I would not be able to comment. Necessary action will be taken by the state government after the NIA completes its probe,” Deshmukh told reporters after the meeting.
Lately, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has become a coalition of scorned egos and a battleground to test each other’s political mettle. Shiv Sena might be the biggest player by vote and seat share but it is the old Turk Sharad Pawar who is still pulling the strings of the entire government. Shiv Sena attempting to go for Pawar’s sidekick might invite the wrath of the NCP supremo who would like to remind Uddhav Thackeray of the consequences of crossing the line.